Portable sign



July 31, 1956 F. vv. STEIN ET AL 2,756,526

PORTABLE SIGN Filed Feb. 5, 1955 llllll F26 f@ llllr! mf@ INVENTORS.

E BY @Qjw I A770 NEK United States Patent O PORTABLE SIGN Frederick W. Stein and Earl E. Hellener, Atchison, Kans.

Application February 5, 1953, Serial No.. 335,218

10 Claims. (Cl. iii- 125) The present invention relates in general to signboards, and it deals more particularly with small portable signs designed for intermittent use, such, for example, as the safety markers that are displayed at street crossings adjoining a school at the hours when children are going to and from the school, or temporary highway warnings of the type employed by road construction and maintenance crews to appraise motorists that a section of the road is under repair.

An object of the invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a sign of the character indicated which is simple and economical to manufacture but sturdy and durable so as to be longlived in use; which provides an eifective, eye-catching and attractive display when in use; and which can be handled easily and eiciently from the standpoint of installing it or removing it from location.

More specifically, an object of our invention is to provide a relatively lightweight sign which is foldable or collapsible for compact storage when not in use and which folds automatically upon being removed from location whereby it can be handled speedily, and large numbers of such signs can be collected or otherwise removed from use in a very short time. Coupled with these advantages, however, it is an object to provide a sign which will not fold or collapse under the influence of wind pressure or accidential impact when it is on location and which, on the contrary, is lirmly self-supporting inA an upright position and has its own means for anchoring it securely against shifting and toppling.

Other and further objects of our invention, together withthe features of novelty whereby the objects are achieved will appear in the course of the following description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts of various views:

Fig. l is a front elevational View of a collapsible signboard embodying our invention showing same in the selfsupporting upright position it occupies when in use, parts having been broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing our signboard collapsed for storage and convenient handling;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l and 2, our signboard has a base lil carrying an upright post 12. The opposite faces of the base may bear any desired legend 14 such as School Crossing, or Men Working; and a brightly colored ag or pennant 16 (or, if desired, an auxiliary sign placard) can be aixed to the upper portion Yof the post.

The base 10 comprises a pair of generally rectangular 2,756,526 Patented July 31, 1956 rice panels 18 and 20 made of sheet metal or like material of suitable rigidity. Along their upper edges the panels are bent toward one another as shown at 22 and then upwardly to form on each panel a marginal lip portion 24 oiset slightly from the plane of the panel proper.

The two panels are hinged together at their upper edges, conveniently by means of rings 26 each of which is received in matching holes 28 in the aforementioned marginal lips. This arrangement provides a very economical and perfectly satisfactory form of hinge, but it will be understood that any alternative form of known hinge may be substituted therefor, it only being necessary that the lower edges of the panel be capable of swinging toward and away from one another.

As previously suggested, the outer faces of the sign panels may bear any desired legend 14; and the inner faces have a pair of brackets 30 and 32 welded or otherwise affixed thereto. A foldable toggle composed of links 34 and 36 has its ends hingedly connected to the opposite brackets at 38 and 40, respectively.

Extending upwardly from the midpoint of the toggle is a. hollow post or sleeve 42, the upper portion of this member being loosely received in an opening 44 (see Fig. 4) formed by cutting out small confronting notches in the bent-over portions 22 and contiguous lip portions 24 of the two panels. The sleeve has at its lower end a depending offset lug 42a which is connected to the toggle joint by means of the pivot bolt or rivet 46. Above the upper edges of the panels, sleeve 42 has an integral radial flange 42b, this being somewhat larger in diameter than the size of opening 44.

As may best be seen in Fig. 2, the position of the ange 2b on the sleeve is such that when the ange rests on the upper edges of the panels it supports the center pivot 46 in a position slightly below the level of the end pivots 38 and 4d whereby the midpoint of the toggle is just below dead center and the lower edges of the panels thus are separated substantially as far as the toggle will permit. Because the toggle cannot fold downwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the lower edges of the panels cannot move together except upon an upward movement of the toggle, which necessarily involves a slight initial outward displacement of the panels as the toggle passes through dead center. This arrangement is effective to prevent accidential folding of the sign under the inuence of inwardly directed force imposed on the opposite panels due to wind pressure or the like.

Post 12 is received in the sleeve 42 and has an integral bead 12a welded or otherwise secured thereto at a point below the lower end of the sleeve. The lower end of the post is pointed as shown, and the upper end is provided with a hand grip or lifting ring 12b.

As will be clear from Figs. l and 2, when our sign is in use, the lower edges of the panels 18 and 20 are Widely spread to form a firm supporting base for the whole assembly. The base cannot fold even under the influence of relatively strong wind pressure, being held open as pointed out hereinbefore by the toggle links 34 and 36 which in turn are held against folding upwardly due to the downward over-center disposition of pivot 46, as well as by the weight of sleeve 42 itself. The lower end of post 12 rests on the ground to provide another point of frietional resistance to shifting of the base, or, if the sign is located off the pavement, the post may be forced downwardly into the ground as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 to provide positive anchorage.

Thus standing, the legends on the base panels are conspicuously displayed, and as previously suggested may be augmented by an eye-catching pennant 16 or the like carried on the upstanding post.

Signs of the kind shown are particularly well suited for intermittent use, inasmuch vas they may easily be removed from location and stored or transferred to other locations. Assuming that a given set of such signs have served their purpose, they can quickly be picked up and collectedby rn'en'working in a truck or like' conveyance. It is only necessary'to drive the truck alongside each standing sign and, without leaving the truck, reach out and'lift the sign'abroa'd by meansof the loop 12b'at the top of the post. When this is done, Vthe'V upward" force (see-Figi` 3) causes the enlarged bead 12a to 'engage the ,base of' sleeve 42,' shifting the latter upwardly and causing it'to'foldV the toggle upwardly whereby the base panels- 18 and 20 automatically swing together asshown in Figf3.' i

Thus,y in a single swift operation, the sign is both removed fromstanding position and folded so that it mayY be laidflat `in 'the truck bed orlstacked upon othersigns similarly folded. It will be obvious that a large number ofV lsigns occupy only Va small space' whenV so folded, making for compact storage Yandl easy handling. At' the same time the signs Vremain ready to be'V restored toinstant usezby the simple act of swinging the lower "edges of`panels 18 and 2t) fapart'as'shown in'Figl 2. Ring '12b can be used forY hanging the sign, if such is desired.'

' From the foregoing it'will be seen that thisinvention is onewell adaptedto attain all of 'the ends andob'jects hereinbefore set forth, together with otheradvantages which are obvious and whichV are 'inherent to" the apparatus. f

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations 'are Yof utility and may be employed'w'ithou't reference to other features and subcornbinations. This is contemplatedby and is within the scope ofthe appended claims." v

Inasmuch as various possible embodiments of the invention may be madewithout departing from'the scope thereof, it is to'be understood that vall matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying' drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

' Having thusfdes'cribed our invention, we' claim:

'1. In a portable sign', a pair of panelshinged together at their upper edges whereby their lower edges can swing toward and away from one another, a foldable toggle between the two panels with its ends hinged'to the respective panels to limit the distance the lower edges thereof can move apart, an upright sleeve connectedl at its 'lower .end to the toggle 'and extending upwardly therefrom through an opening in the hinge between the'panels whereby it projects'above the upper edges of said panels', said sleevefn'iovable ia'xially through'y Vsaid opening and eifective uponupward movement to fold said toggle up wardly thereby to' draw the lower edges ofthe panels toward one another, va post slidably received in said sleeve and iprjectirigbeyond the oposite ends thereof,sad post having below the sleeveZ 1-shoulderV adapted to engage the lower end of the sleeve and 'apply' an upward thrust thereon upor'riiftngr ofthe post.

2. A sign as in claim l wherein said post has a hand grip at .its upper end for lifting same.

3. A sign as in claim l wherein said post has a loop at its upper end for hanging the sign.

4. A sign as in claim l having a display device aixed to the projecting upper portion of the post.y 5. A sign as in claim l wherein said post has a pointed lower end adapted upon downward movement of the post relative to the k,sleeve to enter the ground t0 anchor the sign. i

6. A sign Vas in claim 1 wherein :said sleeve `lhas an outwardly projecting ange positioned to rest on the upper edges' bf saidpanelswhn sid reggleii's substantially fully extended. Y

7. In a portable sign, a pair of opposed, generally upright panels, each having along its upper edge a ange projecting toward the other panel, means hingedly connecting said anges together whereby the lower edges ol the panels canV swing toward and awayl from one another,

saidV flanges and hinge means being V constructed and ,ar-L

ranged to space said panels apart by a4 predetermined distance when "the panels are parallel `to oneanothen Vsaid flanges having opposed notches substantially midway betweenth lateral'edges ofthe panels 'to provide'acentral opening through ksaid hinge, a 'foldable toggle"betwee'n the two panels with its ends hinged to the respective panels to limit the distance the lower edges thereof "can move apart,l said toggle comprising a pair of links pivotedv to one another at" a 'point below and substantially in 'vertical alignment withsaid opening, van upright vsleeve connected at`"it's"`lwer` end to said pivot' and extending upwardly therefrom with its'up'pery portion loosely received in said opening, said Sleeve having'an outwardly projectingangepositioned'to r'eston'the upper edges of said panels when said 'toggle i s` Vsubstantially fullyexten'ded, 'said' sleeve movable axiallyl through said opening and effective upon upward' movement `to fold said toggle thereby 'to draw the vlower edges 'ofthe panels toward one another] a post lsplidably` received in said sleeve yand projecting'be'- yohd`the opposite rends thereof, said post'having 'below the vsleeve a 'shoulder adapted'to engage the lower end of the sleeveand apply'an upward thrust thereon upon lifting f 'the post.

SQA- sign 'asin claim 7 wherein said post has a hand grip at itsnppe'r end for lifting same. 9.4A'sig'n as claim7 wherein said post has a loopv at its upper end for hanging the sign. l

1`0.""fi sign asin claim 7 wherein said post has a pointed lower end adapted upon vdownward nvei'nentfof "the postrelativetoit'he sleeve to erterv the ground fand anchor Y VNU yY-r .':Y .'.l'wr-.a

n References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 

